Spoon

Azera, Markham Valley, Morobe Province,
Papua New Guinea
Early 20th c

Provenance: John Friede collection, Rye, NY

Made from a coconut shell, this spoon from the Azera is beautifully carved. Utilizing the natural shape of the coconut shell, the curvature of the spoon is especially sublime. The handle is the only part of the spoon that is decorated. The face has a refined naturalism and dark patina from use. Both its ears on the side of the face are pierced; where fiber attachments might have originally hung. The back of the handle is engraved with geometric patterns.